Section 1. Introduction. Marine research in the Basque Country: an historical perspective / A. Rallo and Á. Borja -- Human activities along the Basque coast during the last two centuries: geological perspective of recent anthropogenic impact on the coast and its environmental consequences / A. Cearreta, M.J. Irabien and A. Pascual -- Section 2. Geography and oceanography. Geology and palaeoceanography / A. Pascual ... [et al.] -- Climate and meteorology, variability and its influence on the ocean / J.I. Usabiaga ... [et al.] -- Sediment supply, transport and deposition: contemporary and Late Quaternary evolution / Ad. Uriarte ... [et al.] -- Marine dynamics / M. González ... [et al.] -- Hydrography of the southeastern Bay of Biscay / V. Valencia ... [et al.] -- Section 3. Chemical oceanography and water quality. Main characteristics of the water masses / V. Valencia and J. Franco -- Contaminants in estuarine and coastal waters / Ma. J. Belzunce ... [et al.] -- Microbiological quality / J. Bald ... [et al.] -- Section 4. Sediment characteristics, quality and chemistry. Characteristics of estuarine and marine sediments / Ad. Uriarte, Ma. J. Belzunce and O. Solaun --Contaminants in sediments / Ma. J. Belzunce ... [et al.] -- Section 5. Biomonitoring. Biomonitoring of heavy metals and organic compounds, at the tissue-organism level / Á. Borja ... [et al.] -- Biomonitoring of environmental pollution along the Basque coast, using molecular, cellular and tissue-level biomarkers: an integrative approach / I. Marigómez ... [et al.] -- Section 6. Communities and ecology. Bacterioplankton and phytoplankton communities / E. Orive ... [et al.] -- Zooplankton communities / F. Villate ... [et al.] -- Ichthyoplankton assemblages / L. Motos ... [et al.] -- Benthic communities, biogeography and resource management / Á. Borja ... [et al.] -- Coastal fisheries and demersal estuarine fauna / L. Arregi ... [et al.] -- Seabird populations / J. Franco ... [et al.] -- Biodiversity and conservation of wildlife and natural habitats / R. Castro ... [et al.] -- Recovery of benthic communities, in polluted systems / J.M. Gorostiaga ... [et al.] -- Section 7. Overall assessment. Overall assessment, human impacts and quality status / J. Franco, Á. Borja and V. Valencia -- Conclusions: notes on a research agenda for the region / M. Collins and Á. Borja.